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Mine Strikes Spread in South Africa


More strikes have hit South Africa's mining industry, a week after striking workers at a platinum mine won a 22 percent pay raise.

Workers walked off their jobs this week at mines run by AngloGold Ashanti, one of the world's largest gold producers. The workers are reportedly demanding a pay raise in line with the workers at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana township.

Meanwhile, gold producer Village Main Reef says 1,700 of its workers failed to report to work for Thursday's night shift as well as Friday day shifts. Also, mining firm Petmin said Friday that 345 of its workers at a coal mining subsidiary walked off their jobs.

Both companies said they are talking with workers and hoping to end the strikes peacefully.

The Lonmin deal followed a clash between police and miners in which police shot dead 34 striking workers. Earlier this month, union leaders said the Lomnin deal set a precedent for other miners.

Mining is South Africa's biggest industry. President Jacob Zuma has said the various strikes cost the country hundreds of millions of dollars.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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